By David Fierro
Friday was Senior Night/Hoops Night at Greenwich Country Day School and the Tigers’ girls basketball team certainly celebrated the special event in style.
Thriving on both ends of the court, it was a happy Senior Night/Hoops night for the Tigers, who continued their highly successful season with another impressive home triumph.
Junior point guard/tri-captain Brianna McDermott scored a game-high 23 points with five 3-pointers to pace Greenwich Country Day to a decisive 62-36 win over visiting foe Rye Country Day School on Friday.
The win improved the Tigers’ overall record to 6-6 on the season. Currently, GCDS has a 3-3 record in the FAA and is in fifth place in the league, heading into its final two regular season games. The Tigers host league opponent Greenwich Academy Monday at 4:45 p.m., and visit FAA foe School of the Holy Child on Wednesday. The FAA tournament features eight teams.
GCDS honored seniors Anna Lonski, Jashiyah McCoy and Paloma Snisky on Senior Day. Snisky serves as a captain, along with McDermott and junior Nina Ferry.
“Paloma is one of my best friends we met through this school and we’ve got so much closer through basketball,” McDermott said. “So, this is a bittersweet moment. I never thought this moment would come it makes me super sad. She’s paved the way for this basketball team and each year we grow it’s because of her.”
Junior forward Lara Young scored nine points, including one 3-pointer, while Snisky and sophomore center Mia McCauliffe-Grant added seven points apiece for the Tigers. Eighth-grader McKenna McNeil, a guard, posted seven points for the victors.
“I did not expect it to be the way it was,” Snisky said, referring to the squad’s senior game. “There were balloons everywhere and posters. I got so many hugs and that really made me happy, because I love my basketball team and it makes me really sad that this is ending – I really love this team.”
Guard Claire Jiang scored a team-best 19 points for Rye Country Day School, which does not compete in the FAA Tournament. The matchup was close for much of the first half, with GCDS holding a 24-19 advantage with four minutes left in the second quarter.
A basket from the low post by McCauliffe-Grant and a lefty layup by McDermott upped Greenwich Country Day’s lead to 28-19 at the 2:55 mark of the second quarter.
McDermott then swished consecutive 3-point shots, the second of which was from the left corner, putting the hosts on top, 34-21, with just 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
“We could have played better, honestly especially on offense, but I’m proud that we won and still pushed through and won,” Snisky said.
The Tigers seized control of this game in the third quarter. McCauliffe-Grant scored the first three points, making it 37-21. Young converted a foul line jump shot and freshman guard Skylar Brokaw made a layup, moving GCDS’ advantage up to 41-23 at the 2:13 mark of the third quarter.
McDermott received a pass from Lonski, a senior forward and scored at the buzzer ending the third quarter, making it 43-30 in favor of the home team.
McCoy had four points, while Lonski scored three points in one of their final home games for the Tigers. McDermott nailed a shot from beyond the arc to start the fourth quarter, O’Neil made a basket and Snisky swished a 3-pointer, giving GCDS a comfortable 48-30 lead with 6:57 to play.
“It’s been an amazing season, I love our seniors so much,” noted Ferry, who pointed to the team’s chemistry as one of the reasons for its success.
“I think coming together as a team and bonding and having no drama on the team has helped us,” Ferry said. “That helps us on the court too playing together, so its’ been amazing.”
Following their final two remaining regular season games, the Tigers will play in the FAA Tournament.
“I’m ready for the playoffs and I’m ready for us to work and play really, really hard,” Snisky said. “As I said before, I think we can win the FAA.”
